United

Hello Everyone:

Way to go we're over four hundred pageviews.  Thank you so much for all your support and giving me the freedom to say whatever I need to say unfiltered.  I can't do this without you.

Today, the city of Boston mourned along with the rest of the United States.  Their short lives cut short by the monstrous act of a "person" who is filled with hate for his fellow man.  It's moments like this when we, as nation, forget what separates us and comes together.  Why does it take the senseless death of others for countries to come together.  This should not be the case.  I'm not suggesting that we should always agree on everything and put on a big happy smiley face.  What I am suggesting is that no matter what disagreements people have, we always should remember, at least as Americans, that we live in a nation that allows us the freedom to speak our minds without fear of the midnight knock on the door.  Speaking your peace does not mean planting bombs at a road race.  I don't care what the motive was, there was no reason for this.  I know I've carrying on about this event but as a runner I feel that something I enjoy doing has been tainted forever with the stench of this most heinous act.  I haven't let this act deter me from something I enjoy doing but it's definitely made me even more aware of my surroundings and the people that inhabit them. Everyone and everything is suspect.  Unfortunately, this is the world we live now.  This week, I found an article on Time Magazine's website world.time.com/2013/04/16/life-during-wartime/ that talks about coping with urban terrorism in Turkey and Israel.  I think these are lessons we can all learn.  the main point is that we cannot be complacent in our daily lives.  We also cannot be so politically correct that we censor even the slightest thought we don't agree with.  On that point, everyone has the right to say what they need to say, just as it is our right to debate it.  This is what free speech looks like.  Free speech is not without responsibility.  Words and actions have consequences.  If you set off explosives in a public place, you can expect to caught, tried, and punished.  Let's remember this, that as messy and noisy the country live is, it is still your country and it's citizens are your fellow person.